Page 229 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

TURIN І 227

The Galleria San Federico, in
the square’s northwestern corner,
is a stylish shopping arcade.
Piazza San Carlo is known for
its society cafés. In one such
establishment, in 1786, Antonio
Benedetto Carpano invented
vermouth, a drink that is still
very popular all over Italy today.
Spacious arcades on Turin’s Via Roma E Pinacoteca Giovanni e
Marella Agnelli
15th­century Tobias and the P Via Roma Lingotto, Via Nizza 230/130. Tel 011 00
Archangel Raphael, the Ritratto Running through the historic 62 713. Open 10am–7pm Tue–Sun
di Gentiluomo by Bronzino centre, Turin’s main street Via (last adm: 6:15pm). & 7 = - 0
and a Madonna con Bambino Roma leads from Piazza Castello ∑ pinacoteca-agnelli.it
by Beato Angelico. Bellini, (north) through Piazza San Carlo Located on the roof of the
Mantegna and Veronese are to the distinctive arched façade former Fiat factory redesigned
among the other Italian artists of Stazione Porta Nuova (south). by architect Renzo Piano, this
represented in the Galleria. Via Roma is a magnificent museum displays art dating
Dutch and the Flemish works concourse lined with stylish from between the 18th and the
include important paintings shops and shaded arcades, 20th centuries, including Manet,
by Jan Van Eyck, such as St interrupted only by cobbled Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani,
Francis (15th century) and squares. A grid pattern of side as well as two statues by Canova.
Rembrandt’s Old Man Sleeping streets branches off either side
(17th century), as well as several of Via Roma, revealing Y Parco del Valentino
portraits by Van Dyck. additional shopping arcades. Corso Massimo d’Azeglio. Open daily.
The fourth floor hosts the Borgo Medioevale: Viale Virgilio 107.
Gualino Collection, which P Piazza San Carlo Tel 011 443 17 01/02. Open Borgo:
contains Roman archaeological The ensemble of Baroque 9am–7pm daily (to 8pm Apr–Oct);
finds, Oriental artworks and a architecture on this pedestrian Castle: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun. Orto
Venere (Venus) by Botticelli. square has earned it the nick­ Botanico: Tel 011 670 59 80 or 338
name of “Turin’s drawing room”. 958 15 69. Open mid­Apr–mid­Oct:
E Palazzo Carignano At its southern end are the twin 9am–noon Mon–Fri; 3–7pm Sat;
Via Accademia delle Scienze 5. Tel 011 churches of Santa Cristina and 10am–1pm, 3–7pm Sun. & 7
∑ parcovalentino.it
562 11 47. Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun San Carlo; both were built in the
(last adm 5pm). & 7 ∑ museo 1630s, though Santa Cri stina has This park contains the Borgo
risorgimentotorino.it a Baroque façade, crowned with Medioevale, a complex of
This Baroque palazzo is not statues, which was designed by medieval buildings erected for
only Guarini’s masterpiece; it is Juvarra in the early 18th century. the General Italian exhibition
arguably the finest building At the centre of the square of 1884. The edifices show
in Turin, with its magnificent stands a 19th­century statue of different designs and construc­
brick façade and ornate Duke Emanuele Filiberto. The tions, based on traditional
rotunda. It was built in 1679 for work, by Carlo Marocchetti, has regional houses and castles.
the Carig nano family – an become an emblem of the city. The Orto Botanico, beside
offshoot of the main House of At the corners of the square, the castle, is an impressive
Savoy and ancestors of the frescoes depict the Holy Shroud. botanical garden.
Italian kings – but came into its
own in the 1800s. The first king
of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, was
born here in 1820. After Italy
was unified in 1861 by a series
of referenda, the former royal
residence was used as the first
national parliament building.
The palazzo is home to
the Museo Nazionale del
Risorgimento Italiano, which,
through paintings and a
collection of artifacts, tells the
story of unification. It introduces
Mazzini, Cavour and Garibaldi –
key figures in the Risorgimento
(see pp66–7). Looking south across the elegant Piazza San Carlo, “Turin’s drawing room”

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